Confusing World of GPS & rapidly changing technology

[m1taylor]

Hi,

Trying to decide on the following:

1. Handheld GPS
2. Would like chart feature & USB connectivity to PC

But:

Magellen vs Garmin?
Pocket PC with GPS vs Handheld GPS?
Colour or B&W (is the extra cost worth it?)

Any advice would be welcome.

Thanks in anticipation

 

[capel679]

its almost a horses for coarses issue.
i have a garmin 2006 colour fixed at the helm but transferable to the fly bridge and as back up a hand held garmin 176.
which ever you choose i do suggest you have some sort of back up, spare batteries too.
good hunting.james

 

[iangrant]

USB GPS

This little fella works a treat into a laptop. No batteries but it only works with a laptop.


Ian

 

[Sans Bateau]

For what its worth, my advice would be, get a good handheld GPS (don't pay too much) with minimum features. Get to know how to put fixes, work with waypoints and flat paper charts. You will ALWAYS need paper charts as a back up, dont rely to heavily on the electronics. Later on when you want to buy a chart plotter, you will then have your handheld as a backup.

 

[pvb]

USB connectivity....

What do you plan to use the PC for? (This will certainly influence what you buy).

 

[mark_turner]

Garmin best? Re: Confusing World of GPS & rapidly changing technology

Just my experience but at present I would always look at Garmin as a first choice if all else was equal. When my GPs 48 went wrong after about 3 1/2 years showing an 'internal battery fault' I asked Garmin if they could replace the battery. As I am just down the road from them I took it in one lunchtime. They said that the battery should not have failed and so without any discussion exchanged it for a brand new GPS AND downloaded all my waypoints to the new one for me. Can't get much better than that.

 

[nmelton]

Re: Garmin best? Re: Confusing World of GPS & rapidly changing technol

I agree with Springer. A small problem with a new Garmin 62 was sorted out very quickly with a replacement set and I have heard similar stories from other users. As well as consistently good reviews Garmin sets are very intuitive to use - and that's very important if you use them only infrequently and don't want to look everything up in the manual each time. No connection but a very satisfied customer. Praise where praise is due!

As for colour on a plotter I was a sceptic initially but, having had some experience, they are much easier to interpret as the colour helps the old grey cells to assimilate the information displayed so much more quickly. The downside is the initial cost (but look out for well reviewed but discontinued models) and, as has been mentioned elsewhere on these forums, the higher current draw.

 

[William_H]

Re: Garmin best? Re: Confusing World of GPS & rapidly changing technol

I would suggest a handheld GPS hung around your neck. On a boat like yours you will mostly want to be at the helm and generally sailing the boat without the luxury of a navigator at his table or instruments. I find it a pain that numbers are small on my Etrex and I need reading glasses in low light which doesn't fit with scanning the horizon. The thing is a small GPS is so cheap and can always be a backup if you really need a plotter. You do need to put in way points from a map before you set off of course. Give it a go the only way to learn is to do it and as your sailing style firms so you will know what you really need.

 

[trouville]

Re: Garmin best? Re: Confusing World of GPS & rapidly changing technol

What is a GPS mouse???? Ive seen them in shops but never one in use,and so far no one selling them has either.When i ask whats displayed on the PC screen they then present me with a box costing£100+ of road maps??? in a Boat shop!!

My question is simple,what do you see on the screen when just the GPS softwear is installed? And if im sailing would i get a position,speed,and track line as i do on my Garmin 120????or Garmin 72.

Is it a GPS,as lets say the the Garmin 72?? Ive found mice for PC Palm and prortable PC and as they cost about£50?

it seems a good idea?? to have one for my old compaq which has a 10inch screen!And i would use it under the sprayhood in good conditions(no rain and not to much spray)why not? if the PC stops ill have the 72 anyway which i can use with an iluminated magnifying glass???(so far i havent taken it out of its box)

Has anyone used one of these GPS mice?????

 

[charles_reed]

Garmin best?

I'd agree about Garmin, not only are their products good but their customer service is outstanding (unlike some others in the same sector).

My 65, after 13 years hard service, only finally died this February (and it survived the Y2000 roll-over thanks to advice from Garmin).

Sadly they've, IMHO, backed the wrong cartography and my latest chartplotter isn't Garmin, though I'll still be using the 10 yearpld 34 feeding the Navico.

Incidentally, despite not having WAAS, the 34s 12-channel receiver is marginally more accurate than the Lowrance but does suffer from lack of smoothing.